Real Madrid wait for Mourinho call ‘to pay’ six million euros Benfica clause | OneFootball

Real Madrid are waiting for a call from José Mourinho to finalise a two-year deal that would require paying a six million euros release clause to Benfica. According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, the club want the Portuguese to lead a deep overhaul after the clásico defeat that handed Barcelona the title.

Mourinho and Florentino Pérez held a video call of around half an hour to discuss the squad, the dressing-room environment and the president’s expectations. Ancelotti’s successful cycle ended without continuity under Xabi Alonso, in whom Pérez had already harboured doubts before appointing him.

The coach set out conditions that were accepted, including a two-year contract with a possible third by mutual agreement, the removal of Pintus from the first team, the creation of a club spokesperson role, a direct line to Pérez and involvement with the medical department. Pintus is viewed by coaches as Pérez’s man, which also led Ancelotti to exclude him on his return.

Mourinho still has one year left on his Benfica deal but can activate his exit clause, which Madrid would cover. The window to trigger it runs until late May, and relations between the clubs are said to be excellent.

It would be a second successive summer Madrid pay for a coach after eight million euros for Xabi Alonso from Bayer Leverkusen. The move would restore Mourinho to the front rank after Tottenham, Roma, Fenerbahçe and now Benfica, similar to Pérez bringing Ancelotti back from Everton.

Mourinho has been criticised for his stance after the Lisbon meeting between Benfica and Madrid, when Vinícius activated the anti-xenophobia protocol, alleging that Gianluca Prestianni called him a monkey. Mourinho focused on Vinícius’s celebration, said he preferred to remain independent and insisted the club is not racist. Prestianni said he used a homophobic insult rather than a racist one and received a six-match ban.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo